Electric time-switch.



S, CHIGER.-

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH. APPLIOATI'ON FILED 1141.17, 1911.

Patented July 2, 1912 INVENTOR sEGMUND- CHIGEE, or BERLIN, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC TIME-SWITCH.

Specification lot.'- Letters Pa tent'.

Application filed April 17,-

lo (gli whom it may concern.;

Re it. known that I. Sinontmn CHIGER. a euhject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hi'ingfary, residing at 65 Kurfrstendamm, Berlin, (lrer-- many,merchant@ have invented new and' use- `t'ul linprovements inEleetrieTime-Switches; ot which the following .is a specification.

The invention. relates to electrical time -uitehea which are applicableto clocks t'or timing the operation'ot alarma or for time contro-lling`other operations. rIhe'said time switch is adaptedto he operated hy theordinary clock hande, and haa'tor its principal object.' to enabley anyordinary clock to he converted into an alarm clock.

.Wemding to Vthe, invention Ia movable lwitch contact piece is arrangedto he moved hy a. cloek'haud in -a closed curved path aroundthe .axisotrotation ot such hand. luto this path fixed contante may he ineerted`at any desired place which contacta on being' engaged by the'movahleSwitch contacty close the electric circuit ot an alarm loell or otherdevice. 7 f

The improved Switch may readily he. oontructed' in 'such a-mauner that'the distances or periods between the lpoints at which the alarm' is tohe given may he altered as de-l 'aired loi,v 'verysiinplemanipulations.v The apparatus may. for instant-e, he arranged in. auchmanner to eauae a-nfala'rm to he `given at a 'certain hour of the dayand at the `Same hour during' the' night-or it `may he set forsoundingzin alarm at acertain hour' ot the, day only or otthe nig'ht*only` alao it may be adjusted ao as to produce alarms at ditferenttimes duringr the ila-y and during the night. Tho improved device aloenables the time -atYhiCh an alarm ia to be given tohe set Several dayein advance.

ln the aecmnpanying` drawings a construe` tional t'orm ot the improveddevice ia illustrated by way of example. Figure l is a tront elevationpartly in seetion. Fig. .2 ia crois Section on theline A in Fig. 1.

The device is preferably placed in frontof the dial a of the lclock andcomprises4 an annular or (liek-Shaped frame r! arranged eoncentricallywith the arhor ot the clock hands and f'. et which 7) is the hour handwhile o is the minute hand. lu the Jframe flia slid- Patented July f3,1951.2. 1911'. serial No. 621.595.

ably mounted the niovalole switch eont'aet o ivhich is actuated hy thehour hand In,

The 'Contact e may as Shown. he' formed ot bent Wire with an outer benttinger portion adapted to bear uponthe tace ot the. insula- .tionannulus (Z, an intermediate portion adapted to move in the mouth ot agroove f. an end vportion adapted to move Within the inner recessedportion f/ 7 1I ot theI groove. and an .outstanding fork tor engagingthe hour hand 2).- The contact piece is thus Lluioed in the' cam Agrooveformed in the inaulation Vannulus d1 xed on the disk f7 .which `grooveso p' .controls themoveinent'of the eoutaetvpieee.

Thetwo Walla of the groovethus consiat ot' "insulating material, one otthe walls heingf provided with a reeeea g into which the con- 'tae'tpiece lengage and the `oppoaite wall heing provided with a reeeas la. inwhich lietay a conductor 2' each ot which iQ adapted to he y rubbed bythe Switch Contact e. the conductor z' as shown. may conveniently he aflange or rib on the disk fl. rl'he conductor ia connected to oneterminal ottne circuit hy toggle links an. These linka are shownconnected to a` lug or arm m1 on tliefliak a7.. The terminal is mountedon a plate a ieh may be fixed`near to' the periphery ot the dial plateby a clamping device or any other' suitable means.. The other' terminaln of the' circuit which is also mounted on the plate n is-conneoted bytoggle links yo with a projection f] of a metal ringI r fixed to the`traine,V

(I but insulated troni t'he conductor as. .eeen Clearly in Fig. 2. y

Thel metal llring 1" is provided on its oir-- eumference': withprojections in whieh are formed slots I nt'ront ot these projections arearranged Contact-pieces or rods nl and il:

which are received in Suitable more or less ra dial hole@ in the1insulating material. The, Section td the left hand side ot Fig. 1iataken in'a plane parallel With-the plane ofthe dial ao as to displaythese holes. The outer end ot each Contact rod or pin if or 7/2 is bentto torni a hoo-k which. when a rod it fully incerted may paez= into theappropriate Slot hetu'een the two parts ot the projeetion s the' 'hookedend: heine` canied toy toueh auch parte and thus makingl eontaet/wltl'ithe metal ring' r.: lVheu auch a contact rod ig pulieslnouie. inthis wavthe inner end thereof pi'of into `the recess fj of the guide groove f soas to l'ie inthe path of the movable switch con'- ta'ct e driven by theclock hand. The path in which the contact e is moved by the clock handis generally closed on itself' and' may in itssimplest form beconstituted by a circle.

It may however also .have the form of a.

therefore impossible for the contact e to peri form twice in successiona movement in the outer convolution or 1n the Inner convolution but itis constrained to move firstinthe one loop and then in the other. Thisis clearly to be'seen from-F ig. 1 for as the conjtact e comes aroundthe inner loop toward six oclock it is given such a set as will directit into the outer loop, and when it comes laround the outer loopt'owardthe same point it is given such a set as will direct it back into theinner loop.

The outer convolution of the guide groove f may be traversed b v thecontacte during the day, while the inner convolution may be traversedduring the night, or vice versa. When the contact rods u1 and 'u2 are intheir inoperativev position, that is to'say when they are pulled out ofthe grooves g, the electrical circuit of an alarm or other device'cannot be closed. If however a contact rod u2 be pushed in Aso that itshooked end comes into the slot t of the corresponding projection s asseen at.nine oclock in Fig. 1 the inner end of the contact rbd projectssutiicientlv .into the groove 4g to engage with the movable switchcontact e upon the-latter being' brought opposite the.co ntact piece u2byV the movementI of the clock hand. As the contact e is constantlybearing upon the 'flange 2' it is lobvious that this engagement with therod'u2 will electrically connect the disk (I and ring r so that the gappreviously open between the` te1minals l and o .is now closed.

Any desired number of contacts u1 or u2 may be used. it is. essentialthat'those edntacts al which project intovthe inner convolution4 of theguide groove shall not pass throughA tliouter convolutionof the guidegroove, Vor t least that they shall not lie in the; path of the movablecontact e when the latter is traversiugthe)outer convolution of theguide groove. as ,otherwise these coitacts ulmwouldestablishlcontactwithfthemoyable 'tact .e moves, in the 'If both contacts u1.larly at intervals of Contact e at intervals of l2 hours. On the otherhand the contacts u? which are intended to establish contact;l with themovable contact piecewhen the latter moves in the outer convolutionshould not project into the inner convolution. From Fig. l it can easilybe seen that the contacts u2 correspond with the outer` convolutionwhile thecontact-s u1. correspond with :the inner convolution. Thecontacts u1 are 'in ade somewhat'thin-ner than contacts u2 so thattheylie somewhat to the rear of the contacts u2 and are not 'toubhed bythe movable piece e when the latter moves in the outer convolution. Thecontact between the mov'able switch contact e and the-contactslul'istherefore made only'when the coninner convolution. Owl-ng to therods u1being thinner than t e .rods u it` is convenient to cause the thinnerends of the rods u1 to enter holes in little contact blocks a3 whichlatter lie in thepath ofthe Contact c whereas the rodsl Vu2 beingthicker their-extremities actually lie themselves in the path of thecontact c.

If it be assumed that the contacts u1: close the circuit at a certaintime of the day the"- corresponding contacts u2 will if brought intooperative position close the circuit .12 hours later and thereforeduring the night.` and u: of a pair are pushed home the alarm will begiven regu,- 12 hours. If only one conta-ctof a pair Abe pushed home thealarm will be given at intervalsof. 24 hours.

The toggle links 7J and m are arranged in .a plane-behind theclock handsand serve forfacilitating the fixing of the device on clocks of variousdiameters.

It will be understood that when applyiilg the device to a clock ofsmaller diameter the. links will fold so as to contain a moreacuteangle, while with a clock of large diameter the links will open so as tocontain an obtuse angle and allow the'plate u to beI movedlfartl1caf-away from the center of the clock dial@ Further facility infixing the device .to clocks of various shapes is afforded by making theouter ,pins c slidable in the tubular terminal sockets Z and 0, so thatthe plate n may be easilj7 adjusted inthe direc-v tion perpendicular tothe plane of the disk .(Z, `Set screwsx serve to firmly securethe pins vin the lsockets'after the adjustment has taken place. The plate n. mayof course be fixed to a'ny desired part of the peripheral portion of thedial plate or the clock casing. The terminals Z o are suitably connectedin the .circuit containing the battery and the alarm bell buttheseiconnectious are not shown as they are obvious to :tn vbod)yskilled in the art.

The frame d nla'y be made conveniently in tivropart'siso'as to enablethe same to -be fixed behindgthe hands without necessitating the 130.

removal of the latter. 'The'frame (Z ma)v hifwjer be inserted into thedial plate., or may form .part of the same if desired.'

'I claim: f K l. Time switehfapparatus applicable to clocks,l comprisinga'rnovable contact, means for guiding said Contact in an endless pathcomprising' a plurality of intersecting conrelations7 Ameans adapted toform electrical 10' 'cminections between said contact and one i circuittermina-l, and a plurality of r-ont-acts adapted to be put -into and outof connection with the other circuit terniinal; substantially assett'orth. y

Time switch Vapparatus 1comprising an. end-less' guiding path comprisinga pluralityv 4pf intersecting convolutionse a clock-'drivencontaetniovable in said path and adapted to be flnided thereby so thatsaidcontact is always guided from one convolutionto the other' upontraversing the intersection ot saideonvolutlions, a constant electricalcon `nec-tionv between said contact and one circuit terminal, and.'adjustable contacts mcfvable into said .path and simultaneously intoconi stan'tially as set forth- A 3.- A vtime switch, comprising incombination 'af switch Contact adapted -tobe driven S0 by a clockfhan'd,a disk formed with an end less guiding path comprising a. plurality ofintersecting. convolutions 'for said' switchv Contact, extensible'supports for said disk adapted -to beconnectefd .to the lclock dial,-meansada-pted to constant-ly con-neet said' switch contactf driven insaid; convolutions ofits endless path withv one terminalot 'an' elebtriccircuit, and Contacts adapted tobesi'niultaneously inserted intr-)thepath of said nection with the other circu'itterm'inal.. subn 40 VswitchContact and into and out of electrical connection with lthe otherterminal 'of said circuit; substantially as setforth.

4. A time switch, comprising in combina tion a switch cdntact adapted'to be drieng5 by a clock hand, a base formed with an end- 'less pathcomprising ali-.pluralityY of c'onvg# lutionsand Vguiding saidswitchcontact, ex-

`tensible arms connecting saidl base with a fixed part of the clock` acontinuous contact Saon one side of the cenvolntions of saidpath'..

'connected withl one vterminal ot an electric circuit'said switchcontactbeing adapted to constantly engage said continuous contact and'contacts adapted to be inserted into the 65 path of'said'stvitch Contactand into an-dout ofconnectionwith the other termihal of said circuit.;:substantially as set torth.-

5. A time switch apparatus applicable to clocks'and comprising a diskfor-med with an' endless guiding path comprising splu ralitgY of,convolutions. a contact -i'novable in saidf'ptb and adapted to engage aAhand btsaid' (ilo-ck, acentinuous 'contacten one side ot"theconvolut'ions of said' path and i-n a position to beengaged by saidswitch' contact. said cijintinu'inis Contact bei-n0' .in conn'ectj'ionlwith one direuit tei-"minaL and insertible and removable contactsadapted to be projected into or removed from-said path and to be pntinto or out of connectionwith the. other circuit'termii'ial;,substantially` set to rth.

(i. Time switch apparatus fapplieable to eloclis and comprising a diskformedv with' an aperture tor receiving 'the central' arbor" and with anendless 'guiding groove7 a switch Contact movable in ,andL'guided bysaid 4groove 'and adapted-to'engage oneclock 'han-'h a permanent contacton one side of said groove in position forl engaging said movable switchcont-act, .and adjustable contacts on the opposite'side of said groovemovable into and-out of tbe path of-said switch Contact, and connectionsbetween 4resp-ectil'e circuit terminals said per-filament contact andsaid adjustable contacts substautiall)l as 'set forth.

T. Time switch-:apparatus applicable 'to clocks and comprising aperforated disk,

means for, mounting .said disk; .concentri-v call;Y with. a clock dial7an. insulationannu-j ius mounted on said disk and" formed with an.endless groore, afsw1tch contact1-movable in said groove7 meansI on saidContact for .en-

laging a clock hand,`. a ifix'ed contactal ar7 ranged on one side ofsaid groove" and adapte" ed to engage said stvitch contact, adjustablecontacts movable in relation tothe other'side of's'aid groove and intoAand outfof the path of said movable switch Contact,l and Connec-yt-ionsvfi-om said fixed and adjustable contacts to respective circuitter1ninals,-,substantially as. set forth.'

8. Time switch. apparatus applicable to 'clocks and comprising avperforated dislt,` means for mounting said disk co'neentricazlly with':a cl'o'ck diah' an insulation' annulus mounted. on'said disk and formedWith t-wointersecting endless groovesi a switch conf tact movablelinsaid groove ahdfadapted to" be guided by the sidewalls-of'saidgrooves lso that said contact.- is'always guided from' onegroove into the other 'upon traversing the-intersection of. saidgrooves, Vrneans'on said Contact# for engaging a clocli' hand, ,avvconstant connee'tionbetween said switch contact and one circuitterminal, and adjustable contacts movable-.into and out of said groovesand therefore intoand outfof'thepath ot said morable's'witeh Contact,and connections `-from said-adjustable contacts' to the other circuitterminal, substantially as set forth.

9. Time siiitch apparatus"applicable to 'clocks comprising' aninsnlationannulus adapted. to bemountedon a cloclaA ldial and provided with anendless guiding groove, a

switch con'tac'adapted to bendriven 'by the cloekaroundfsaidf?grooveiafixed endless contact-dispedlto one side of said grooye izo.

'iiisertible into one of a and adapted to be-coiitiniiously engaged bysaid movable contact, an adjustable contact plurality of spacedapertures in saidl insulation and adapted to be projected into the pathof s aid'niovable contactl from the other side of said groove, andlelectrical connections from respective circuitterminals to said-fixedand adjustable contacts substantially as set forth.

10,' Time switch apparatus applicable to clocks comprising anvinsulation annulus adapted to be mounted on a clock 'dial and` providedwith an endless guiding groove and with circularly spaced more or lessradial apertures communicating between the' periphery of said annulusand saidgroove,` a switch contact adapted to be driven by the clockaround said groove, a fixed endless -contact disposed toward thev innerwallv of said groove and adapted to be continuously engaged by saidswitch contact, a rod adapt# ed to be inserted into'any one of saidapertures and to project into the path of said switch contact, a commonconductor adapted vto niake electrical connection With said rod in anyposition in which said rod is inserted, and respective connections fromcircuit terminals to said conductor and said fixed endless lcontactsubstantially as set forth.

1 1. .Time -switch apparatus applicable to clocks comprising aninsulation annulus 'adapted to-be mounted on a-clock dial and guidinggroove and more or less radial foi-ined with an endless with' circularlyspaced Vapertureslcominunicating between the peripheiry of saidannulusand said grooves, a

fio

switch contact adapted to be driven bythe. clockmaround saidgroove, aring conductor mounted along the inner wall of said groove, aring'conductor;mounte'd Aexterioily of said annulus, projections on thelast-named conductor, a rod adapted to. be inserted in one of saidapertures and to 'have -one 'end in en` gag-ement with the appropriateprojection vand thej'oppos'iteend projecting into said groove,saidswitch Contact being adapted to engag'e'thefirst named ringconductor and the projecting e'ndof said rod, and. respectiveconnections from circuit termina-ls to Vsaidcf'inductor and saidfixed'endless con tact substantially Vas set forth.

12..'I`ime switch apparatus applicable to clocks comprising incombi'natioii a metal disk adapted to be supported concentrically on a-clock dial, anv insulation annulus thereon' formed with an endlessguiding groove and-with more or less radial aperturesconr4 municatingbetween the periphery and said groove, an annular metal flange on saiddisk said, flange projecting .into said guiding groove attheinner side,a ring conductor i' mountedexte'nallyof said annulus, a rod adaptedtobeinserted into one of said aper-v tures and tofproject into saidgroove, means on said ring conductor for'engaging said' rod, a' switchcontact adapted to be driven by a clock hand around said engagement withsaid flange and so as to come intocoi'itact with-said rod, andrespecsaid disk and said ring'eonductor substantially as set forth. Y13.-Tiine switch apparatus' applicable to clocks comprising incombination a metal disk adapted lto be supported concentrically on aclock dial, an insulation annulus thereon formed with inner and outerendless guiding grooves intersecting one another at one point and alsowith two sets ofmore or less radial apertures, apertures of one setcommunicating between. the periphery and 'theinner groove and apertureslof the other set communicating 'between the periphery and theoutervgroove, annular metal flanges on said disk said flanges`projecting into reifianges and so as to come intocontact with saidrod,and respective connections from circuit terminals to said disk andsai'dring conductor substantially as described. i

. 14. Time switch' apparatus'ilpblicable to rated metal dis-k, means forsecuring said disk. to a clock dial, an insulation annulus `on said diskha ving an endlessgiiidc gioovc'f` `and more -or `less radial apertures,formed therein,'an endless flange arranged on said tothe innersidethereof, a peripheral insulation on said disk, a ring Aconductor sur-pVVrounding said peripheral i'iisul'ation,api'w.1 jections on saidringconductor,

so as to project into said 'groove aud'to en#V gage. a projectionadjacent to the aperture;lv connections between respective circuit ter-'.ininals and'said ring conductor and-'said disk, and a movable switchcontact slidable i'n said groove in 4contact with said tia-nge and so tocome into contact with saidiod and adapted to be engaged Awith a clockhand 'substantially asset; forth.

l15. Time switchapparatus applicable 'to clocks and comprisingincombination ,ai perforated metal disk.'n'ieansfor securing.' said diskto a clock dial', aninsulation nulus on said disk` having 4two vendlessint tive connections from-circuit terminals to clocks comprising incombination .'i perfo-A l aroc'ladaptl ed to be inserted intov one ofsaid apertures". i

groove and in sstantengagement with o ne or other of said disk andprojectingfintosaid guiding groove' I ist" secting guide grooves vandtw-o setsof more or less radial-apertures therein, the aper- A turesof-one set beingofl a different size xand .in a different plane froml-thoseof the other set, one Setof apertures communicatingbetweenperipliery of said lannulus and the inner Groove-.andthe otherset communicating betveen saideriphery and 'the outer groove,twoendlessanges arrangedon said disk and projecting intoA respectiveguide .grooves to the 'inner side. thereof, fa' ring conductorsurrounding-- said annulus, rods of ditferentsiz'es correspondingwith'said apertures, said rods being insertible into appropriate aperturesand adapted to. connect with said ringconductorat V,the outer end and toproject .into the correspondingV groove :at .the tweenrespective circuitterminals andsaid disk,

or .other of'saidflanges and so as to engage one or other of said rodsand adapted to be engaged wlth a clock hand 'substantially as setfort-h.

16. Time` switch -apparatus applicable to clocks comprising incombination a disk,

an endless guide thereon :a 'permanent switch Contact vfixed on. onesideof said' guide, .s'witchcontacts movable on said'disk to 'projectlinto saidgu'ide from the other side,l`a guide under the iniuence of'the clock hand and vadapted to connect across from, any projectedlcontact .to said permanent con end-less guide thereon, a

inner end, connections beand a movable switchv contactl slidable. insaid grooves in constant contact with one;

Aslider.l switch movable.l along said vlcontact fixed on` one side ofsaid' guide, 'switch contacts movable on said 'disk to project into saidguide from-the'other side, a slider 'switch lmovable along said guideunder the-,influence of the clock hand 'and adapted to connectacrossfrom any vpro-` jectedcontact to -said permanent contact,.a

conductor common to projected switch contacts and adapted to been'gagedbythe latter,`a clamp plate adapted to be fixed tothe periphery of theclock dial two pins on said clamp 4plate 'i standing lperpendicularly tosaid dial, ltoggle links connecting 'the per-v manent cont-act andthecommon conductor with respective pi-ns, and end pivot bear-v' ings for1said vtog'fgles capable of 'sliding 'on' 'said pins 'substantially'asset forth.`

In testimonywhereof I- havesigned my name to this specification in thepresence 'of two subscribing witnesses.V A

, --sIEGiuUND CHIGER.

HENRY -Hasrnm WOLDEMAR HAUPT.

and extensible con-

